Amanda Montell, Author of “Wordslut,” Is Spending a Month in Italy—Here’s Her Reasoning.

Forget about revenge travel; it never really resonated with us anyway. This year, we’re embracing reconnection travel, which is emerging as the primary motive for travel in the post-pandemic era. After facing challenging years, people are venturing into the world again with genuine excitement and purpose. We spoke with 11 globe-trotting celebrities to explore what 'reconnection' signifies for them—whether it involves solo adventures, culinary journeys through Italy, reconnecting with old friends, honoring lost loved ones, or making essential visits to family.

In the following interview, linguist Amanda Montell, host of the podcast Sounds Like a Cult and author of Cultish and Wordslut, shares her upcoming travel plans for Italy.

What location is drawing you back?

Funny you should mention that! I just landed last night for a month-long adventure in a place that has been calling me back for ages—the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Five years ago, I spent a month in San Marino, a small microstate on Italy’s eastern coast, while wrapping up my first book, right after going through a significant breakup. Cliché or not, that trip truly transformed my life and set the tone for what came next! A special place in my heart has been dedicated to this region ever since. Now, as I transition into finishing my third book and contemplating my next steps, I felt it was time to visit Bologna to rest, recharge, and indulge in some culinary delights! I learned Italian as a teenager, and speaking it makes me feel like my brightest self, so I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be here during this precious time.

What location feels like home, even if it’s not your birthplace?

My parents relocated to Santa Barbara, California, when I turned 21. Having grown up in Baltimore, which has a vastly different atmosphere, I was concerned that the sun-drenched, laid-back California lifestyle wouldn’t feel familiar or homey to me. I was surprised by how quickly a place as stunning as Santa Barbara could start to feel like home. At times, it even reminds me of Italy! They refer to it as the California Riviera. While I don’t exactly feel like I’m 'from' Santa Barbara (I’d likely be much more laid-back if that were the case, ha), relaxing at my parents’ home there feels like the perfect mix of home and vacation.

Are you planning any trips for reconnection? If so, how do you intend to do it?

I’ll actually be in Europe for the next three months! After wrapping up my solo adventures in Bologna, I’ll host several creative retreats in Rome, Tuscany, and the Amalfi Coast, where two distinct groups of adventurous readers will join me for a week of travel and writing. Following that, my partner, best friend, her husband, and other loved ones will visit, and we’ll explore Sicily, then Barcelona, and finally the south of France. After everyone departs, I plan to spend another month in Paris. I know, tough life! I’ve been planning this extensive journey for over a year and can hardly believe it’s finally happening. After five years of relentless work—writing and publishing books at such a pace that I didn’t have time to pause, breathe, or enjoy any of it—I feel incredibly grateful to escape the hectic chaos of my life in L.A. and reconnect with myself here.

—Amanda Montell, linguist, podcast host, and author of Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism (Harper Wave, 2021) and Wordslut: A Feminist Guide to Taking Back the English Language (Harper Wave, 2019)